Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-27

tnct than near at hand, whether be-
cause the palm branches threw heavy
shadow, or that her fan managed TO in
tercept the view just when / expected
to see her features.
drew up an easy chair and seated
myself so that could see the floor and
yet talk If she chose 10 begin. Some
how the fan told me she knew I had
come to stay. Certainly she had the
pretlest figure in the world, and her
milliner had intended that same world
to know it. The dark-blu silk model
led itself like wet linen 10 surfaces
that suggested plumpness, but
were never full. The middle figure,
where women are straight or
marked with artificial curves, was
charged with delicate lines that gave
little to her breathing aud the lower
neck, pushed high by band of yet
darker blue silk OF a rough texture.
seemed hardly confined 10y the robe.
The latter, though split pretty far down
the centre, covered the shoulders half
to the neck, leaving a dazzling wedge
Of bosom. From the short, narrow
skirt jutted embroidered stockings
very literally displayed, tiny feet, and
slippers of silk with prodigiousIy high
heels.
observation-disclosures was nothing about
the lady 10 give color to a suspicion
that she had departed from ordinary
models in dress with any wrong intent
she had the air of one who always
dressed in that fashion and was occu-
pied with any subject rather than her
own self, her looks, or her garments.
cOughed respectfully and remarked
that | regretted not to have seen her at
the charity ball.
"And what is the charity ball,
pray ? asked the lady very languidly,
but not afectedly, as she toyed with
her fan.
was dumb. Did she wish to snub
me?
Finally" Er-er-the big public ball
for, for charity" said l, foundering
desperately.
81 never go to public balls. They
are vulgar"
al was just saying to Mrs. de
Sille--," said ], at my wits end for
something, and hesitated-
"Sille, Sille? Are there any of the
name left?" she exclaimed with the
first show Of interest 81 thought the
family extinct"
DWELL, yes, in the male line. But
you certainly know your hostess, don't
you ?"
"To tell you candidly, / don't. /
came down here by chance-by mis-
take-and hoped to get away without
attracting notice
"Asif you could !" I cried. "There
are not so many beautiful women now
adays that you could hope to pass in a
crowd :"
] felt that the fair ones eyes were on
me, and, though | knew | colored, de-
termined to see her at last. Raising my
eyes-there was that cursed fan again
But the shot had told the fan looked
better-humored, more laxative, and |
the body in that enhancing silh robe |
turned a trihe in my direction.
"Then that is why you wear one of |
those delicious dresses we have in min
iatures and old pictures But some
times you come down to the present,
don't you? Sometimes You think it
might be well to know your own
times-not those of sixty years gone
by? For | want to see more of you. | !
may have no other opportunity to say
so. VIII you, will you let me call on
you ?"
] said this because saw that little
ass, Tommy Moore, steering straight for
our tdtc-d-tftc.
"Why, you do call on me oftenl"
said the lady calmly. "You dine at
my table at least once a month in win
ter"
"Witch, avaunt 1 Kissed, perceiv-
ing that by some incomprchensible |
means a friend must have been |
masquerading. / moved suddenly and |
caught her profile against the brilliant |
room for q second. But it was not one
/ knew, though it recalled four or five
people to my mind, only to reject them.
81 don't propose to tell you my
name," she said, "but you must tell
me yours. All / suspected |
it from the resemblance. Your father
was a charming man-rather too head
long il falling in love, poor fellow =
but your mothers mother What an |
original creature Such q sad face as
she had when she lost her husband.
But from that sadness, as from heavy
cloud in summer, how she shot wit and
humOr like different-colOred lightning
Those were not bad days in their way
| have heard"
l drew "A long breath. "You fright
ened me then. You spoke as if you be-
longed to New York sixty years ago
and were disembodied spirit reyisiting
the earth.
She laughed a thin but musical
laugh.
"And If l were? O, don't you see
how little difference it makes, whether
! am myself or my own grandmother
We get our qualities from our ances-
tors we are our ancestors. Put it this
way | may possibly have had so much
to do with old people of my own family
who live altogether in the past that I'M
l live there with them
md know old New York as perfectly
is-I DO not know new New York -
Tommy Moore came up. l saw that
Mrs. de Sille had become crazed with
annoyance, and conjecturing that L
,ould not extricate myself had sent hun
70 furnish we with an excuse.
"Mr. Thomas Moore, the eminent
,nd-man of all amateur minstrelsy-
without his burnt cork. Thus | intro
iuced Moore to the lady, wishing to
lim the flames of Sheol and wonder
ng how / could get hold of her iden-
lily.
II didn't catch her name" bawled
Tommy in what he thought Il very face
ious stage whisper.
The lady lowered her fan, but always
% that / could not see her face, and
ave Tommy such look that bis knees
mote together. Hereached hastily for
stool and remained speeches., with
lis mouth slightly open.
"No; go nowhere now, resumed
he, TRANQUILITY, as if she continued a
"1he manners of the
present generation are so bad that
here is no pleasure in it. The men
annot even bow, and, do you know, |
hink this whirling dance shockingly
.ulpar. There is 50 much personal
ontact" Here she produced a SMELL